In order to save the empire, one of the surviving Kettral must voyage beyond the edge of the known world through a land that warps and poisons all living things to find the nesting ground of the giant war hawks. Meanwhile, a monk turned con-artist may hold the secret to the kenta gates.
But time is running out. Deep within the southern reaches of the empire and ancient god-like race has begun to stir.
What they discover will change them and the Annurian Empire forever. If they can survive.
Brian Staveley’s CHRONICLE OF THE UNHEWN THRONE books are some of my all-time favorite fantasy novels, full stop. I’ve gone on the record saying that THE PROVIDENCE OF FIRE is the perfect fantasy novel, and the standalone prequel novel SKULLSWORN, set in the same world, is not far behind.
It actually feels like it’s been longer than the four-odd years since SKULLSWORN was published, mostly because I’ve been so fucking excited for THE EMPIRE’S RUIN. Between comments I had seen from Staveley on Twitter, and his own acknowledgments in this book, this is a novel that was rewritten entirely. And while I’m certainly curious about the version of the book that got scrapped, the version that we got?
Holy fuck.
I mean. Just…wow. With THE EMPIRE’S RUIN, Staveley manages to capture everything that was epic about the CHRONICLE OF THE UNHEWN THRONE trilogy, combine it with some of the more fun aspects of SKULLSWORN, and the end result is one of the best, most thrilling fantasy novels I’ve ever read. If this first book is any indication, ASHES OF THE UNHEWN THRONE is going to be an all-time favorite trilogy for me.
And oh. I don’t quite know where to put this in the review, so I’ll just say it now. I’m not sure I can think of another book with such amazing first and last chapters as THE EMPIRE’S RUIN. So you get hooked fast, and then are DYING for more when this one ends. Oof.
People familiar with the UNHEWN THRONE trilogy will undoubtedly be fans of Gwenna Sharpe. If this is your first foray into this world (I may have thoughts on that later), prepare to have your definition of the word “badass” redefined.
I think the story picks up not long after the events of THE LAST MORTAL BOND, maybe five years or so? Gwenna now leads her own Kettral wing, but things are…in disarray. In fact, there is but one kettral (these are GIANT war hawks that Kettral fly into battle) remaining.
After a mission goes horribly awry, the Emperor tasks Gwenna with a new mission: travel to the mysterious & dangerous island of Menkiddoc, in the hope that there may just be wild kettral living there.
What follows is, without a doubt, the single most brutal & harrowing journey I’ve ever watched a character endure in a fantasy novel. I mean…fucking hell. Brian Staveley’s reverence for this character shines through again & again, but goddamn…Gwenna goes to hell and back more times than I can count in this book.
Gwenna also develops a unique relationship with a young girl named Rat. The less said about this, the better. But to me, the relationship & bond between Gwenna and Rat became the entire soul of this novel. RAT MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS!!
I’m so obsessed with Gwenna’s journey in this book that I’ve written a whole bunch and I haven’t even mentioned that there are other POVs in this. So, there are. And they are also great.
EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK IS GREAT!
Horrifying monsters, a spectacularly evil villain, treacherous seafaring adventure. Staveley is also just so fucking good at describing the environment these characters are in…you can feel your skin crawling in the brutal humidity of the jungle (The Actual Worst Jungle™️), and sense the lurching of a ship caught in a gnarly storm.
THE EMPIRE’S RUIN is the kind of book that reaffirms why I love reading dark, stabby fantasy. I honestly couldn’t have loved this any harder, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here!
As far as reading THE EMPIRE’S RUIN without reading the CHRONICLE OF THE UNHEWN THRONE trilogy first? Hmm. You certainly could. But it wouldn’t be my personal recommendation. I think the experience of reading this was made so much better by having read the trilogy, as well as SKULLSWORN (although being a true prequel, SKULLSWORN could for sure be read before reading the trilogy). In the end, they are all amazing, and some of my very favorite fantasy books of ever.
Endless thanks to Tor Books for the copy!!!
Grimdark Dad 